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826 releases its pyscho apple tree quarterly during LitCrawl

By | October 31, 2013

Illustration by Gene Luen Yang

What does a psycho apple tree have to do with 826 Valencia? It’s the cover of our latest 826 Quarterly, illustrated by Gene Luen Yang, and inspired by Dominic Valle’s “If I Was a Psycho Apple Tree.” On October 19, Litquake ran its annual Lit Crawl festivities, inviting fans of the written word to partake in an exciting evening of literary events, and at 826 we released the 826 Quarterly 18 with a foreword by singer, songwriter, and longtime 826 supporter, Thao Nguyen of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down.

Each year, folks cram into our writing lab to see 826 Valencia students/literary superstars read their work onstage. This year, Lit Crawl doubled as our 826 Quarterly 18 release party, and authors proudly read their fresh-off-the-press writing to a crowded room of supporters. Stories ranged from a disco-dancing grandpa in Camila Mora’s Mr. Sneak in 2012 to a self-destructing letter in Ronaldo Rodriguez’s Rush. 826’s Programs and Publications Coordinator Molly Parent hosted a question and answer session with the authors after their readings, giving audience members insight into these talented students’ imaginative process.

After our young scholars shared their poems and prose, audience members picked up a copy of the latest 826 Quarterly where these stories have been published. Anyone who missed the LitCrawl festivities is encouraged to drop by 826 Valencia and pick up the Quarterly to serve as a literary companion during the wintry months ahead. A psycho apple tree quarterly is great company indeed.